CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
Flight Training Services
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
RFI 13-010
ISSUE DATE: November 1, 2013
RESPONSES DUE: November 21, 2013, 3pm
RETURN TO:
CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
PURCHASING OFFICE
2ND FLOOR MITCHELL HALL
400 E. UNIVERSITY WAY
ELLENSBURG, WA 98926-7480
Visit our website: http://www.cwu.edu/contracts/current-bid-opportunities
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
Note: This RFI document is posted on our website http://www.cwu.edu/contracts/current-bid-opportunities.
General Intent: Central Washington University (CWU/the university) invites organizations to submit
information about their capacity to meet the university's flight-training needs.
CWU intends to enter into an agreement for fixed-wing flight training services as described in this
Request for Information. These services shall begin no later than August 1, 2014.
CWU has elected to review multiple options that may meet its needs. This RFI will help CWU in
determine whether proceeding with an RFP process would be the best course of action. The issuance
of any resulting RFP will be contingent upon available funding and upon satisfactory results from the
RFI process.
Objectives: This RFI is being issued by Central Washington University with the following objectives:
1.
To research the capabilities of providers to meet flight-training requirements of the CWU
Department of Aviation.
2.
To determine which locations (including Ellensburg) may meet the program's requirements.
3.
To establish a basis for RFP specifications, both mandatory and desired.
3.
To assist in establishing the evaluation criteria and weighting process to be utilized in an RFP
process.
4.
To furnish providers with feedback about their capacity to meet CWU's need, should an RFP
process proceed.
Confidentiality. This RFI constitutes a preliminary step in a formal procurement process. CWU will
maintain the confidentiality of information received in response to this RFI until such time as a
contract is awarded subsequent to an RFP process or the determination is made not to conduct such a
process. Any document(s) or information which the responder believes is exempt from public
disclosure per RCW 42.17.310 shall be clearly identified by the responder and placed in a separate
envelope marked with the RFI number, the responder’s name, and the words "proprietary data" along
with a statement of the basis for such claim of exemption. CWU’s sole responsibility shall be limited
to maintaining such information in a secure area and to notifying the responder of any request(s) for
disclosure within a period of five years from date of award. Failure to so label such materials or failure
to provide a timely response after notice of a public disclosure request has been given shall be deemed
a waiver by the responder of any claim that such materials are, in fact, so exempt.
Requirement to Respond: While failure to respond to the RFI will not preclude any provider from
responding to the subsequent RFP, the following benefits may accrue to participants in the RFI
process:
•
Better understanding of the university’s needs.
•
Opportunity to better prepare submittals and presentations as a result of the university’s
feedback.
•
Opportunity to spread resource utilization over a longer time period. For example, some
responders may wish to incorporate content prepared for the RFI submittal into a RFP
submittal.
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Background: Central Washington University (CWU) is a publicly assisted university located in
Ellensburg, Washington, 100 miles east of Seattle. The governing board of the university is appointed
by the governor. About 10,300 students attend the university; about 1,300 students attend CWU online
or at one of several satellite campuses located in, Everett, Lynnwood, Moses Lake, Des Moines,
Steilacoom, Wenatchee, and Yakima.
Ninety-five percent of CWU students are Washington residents. About 80 percent of CWU students
are from western Washington, with concentrations in King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Yakima counties.
About 25 percent of students are people of color. Sixty-five percent of graduates transferred to CWU
from another institution.
CWU is a master's degree-granting university. Some signature areas of study at CWU include wine
business, music, industrial and engineering technology, education, accounting and supply chain
management, geology, aviation, paramedics, and field archeology.
The CWU Department of Aviation is one of twelve departments housed in the College of Education
and Professional Studies. The department offers two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Aviation
Management and one in Professional Pilot. The Professional Pilot degree offers two specializations,
Commercial Pilot and Flight Officer. These degrees focus on technical training and development of
cognitive and analytical knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to be successful in flight operations
in civil aviation.
The Commercial Pilot specialization combines academic coursework and flight training toward the
commercial pilot license with instrument rating and prepares students for careers in general aviation.
Many graduates of this degree also pursue military aviation careers.
The Flight Officer specialization includes academic coursework, flight training to complete the
commercial pilot license with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and Certified Flight Instructor
rating. The degree also includes airline-style ground school and advanced FTD training in multiengine
turboprop and turbojet aircraft systems and operations.
Instrument Flight Instructor and Multi-engine Instructor ratings are optional electives in either
program.
Academic classes and flight training are integrated and organized as a single, continuous educational
curriculum. Students enroll in flight labs each term to receive credit for flight training. All flight
training is done through contract and is conducted under 14CFR part 141, at Bowers Field Airport in
Ellensburg, Washington. Once enrolled at CWU, students may not receive college credit for flight
activities or instruction received at other flight schools. Students who transfer from other colleges or
flight schools may receive credit only for a private pilot certificate.
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Student/Flight Hour Information
FIVE YEAR AVERAGE OF STUDENTS ENROLLED IN FLIGHT LABS
Private Instrument SE Commercial
# of students 34
22
20
enrolled
Average
70
80
110 (20 complex)
hours flown
per student
(each rating)
Total hours
2,380
1,760
2,200
flown / year
(all students)
CFI
12
Multi-engine
13
Total
95
15
20
295/student
over four
years)
180
260
6,780
RFI Evaluation Process: The submittals will be reviewed by CWU personnel to identify the vendors
that warrant further consideration. Vendors whose services do appear to address the needs of the
university will be placed on the bid list for any subsequent RFP process. Vendors whose services do
not appear to satisfy all of the university’s requirements will be notified of deficiencies.
Submitting Information: Respondents must submit their information to the Central Washington
University Purchasing Office by email, mail, or hand-delivery (not by fax). If mailed or handdelivered, all responses must be in an opaque box or envelope with the name and address of the
respondent appearing on the outside of the box or envelope. Regardless of the method of delivery,
the response must arrive at the Purchasing Office no later than November 21, 2013, 3 pm, Pacific
Standard Time.
If delivery is by email (preferred), send to: Thompsst@cwu.edu
Note: All emailed proposals will be confirmed with a return email. It is the vendor's responsibility to
verify that their proposal has been received by CWU’s Purchasing Office.
If delivery is by mail the address is:
Central Washington University
Mitchell Hall, 2nd Floor
Purchasing Office, M/S 7480
400 E. University Way
Ellensburg WA 98926-7480
Interviews: The university reserves the right to schedule interviews with vendors that submit
responses that appear to meet the university’s needs. These interviews will be used to gather
additional information for any resulting RFP.
Due Date: Please respond by November 21, 2013, 3pm
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Service Specifications:
Service Location: Bowers Field Airport is the preferred location. Vendors can contact Kirk Holmes,
Kittitas County Director of Public Works, at 509-962-7523 for more information about this location.
Alternate Service Locations: The university is also interested in information from vendors able to
provide services at airports with-in 60 miles of any of campuses listed below:






Des Moines at Highline Community College
Lynnwood at Edmonds Community College
Moses Lake at Big Bend Community College
Steilacoom at Pierce College
Wenatchee at Wenatchee Valley College
Yakima at Yakima Valley Community College
Services:
Flight services must include appropriate/current education and training in FAR Part 141 private pilot,
commercial pilot, and flight instructor certificates and also the instrument pilot, instrument instructor,
and multi-engine pilot ratings.
Flight instructors must be highly experienced and trained in multi-place crew procedures with
significant instructor time.
The preferred primary training aircraft should be low-cost, fixed-gear, single-engine. Low- or highwing aircraft are acceptable. However, a fleet of one aircraft-type is preferable. Aircraft must be
maintained above FAA minimum requirements. Detailed maintenance records need to be available for
immediate review by CWU Aviation Program personnel.
The CWU Aviation Program must be able to exercise adequate academic and administrative control of
the flight program. This is an essential element for accreditation of the program by the Aviation
Accreditation Board International (AABI).
The provider shall assume full responsibility (including financial responsibility) for obtaining,
maintaining, and providing flight-line access. This would include space for maintenance operations,
taxiing and landing, parking and tie-down, landing fees, administrative space for student briefing
rooms and dispatch.
Required training to include:





Private Pilot single engine land
Instrument rating
Commercial Pilot single engine land
Multi-engine land rating
Certified Flight Instructor single engine land
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Optional training to include:


Certified Flight Instructor Instrument
Multiengine Flight Instructor
Insurance Requirements: Vendor shall obtain and maintain in force at all times during the term
hereof:
(i)
Workers' Compensation Insurance in accordance with applicable state laws and
Employer's Liability coverage for employees providing services hereunder. Vendor
hereby waives any immunity that would otherwise be available against claims under the
Industrial Insurance provisions of Title 51 RCW.
(ii)
General liability insurance covering the operations, products completed-operations and
activities of Vendor, with minimum limits for bodily injury and property damage of no
less than One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) each occurrence and Two Million Dollars
($2,000,000) aggregate. Vendor shall provide CWU with certificates of insurance as
evidence of such coverage within thirty (30) days of execution of this Agreement. CWU
shall be named as an additional insured on the general liability policy. Such insurance
will be primary and non-contributory.
(iii)
Automobile liability insurance covering owned, hired and non-owned vehicles used in
the operation of Vendor's business, with a combined single limit of liability for bodily
injury and property damage in the amount of one million Dollars ($1,000,000). Vendor
shall provide CWU with a certificate of insurance as evidence of such coverage within
thirty (30) days of execution of this Agreement.
Requested Information:
Please limit vendor response to no more than 10 pages and include, at a minimum, the following
content:

Company Overview
o Qualifications
o Experience
o Services Provided
o Equipment Description (Aircraft & Facilities)
o References

Location of Services (Ellensburg preferred)

Schedule for implementation (Target date for services to commence is August 1, 2014)

Cost structure
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